Scan barcode
gmamartha's review
3.0
Feeling like Alice down the rabbit hole a bit after reading this one. My mind is still whirling with this adventure in wordplay.
cdale8's review
3.0
Another book that I'd give another half star to if I could...
I really enjoyed the word play, and the interesting way all of the euphemisms and allegorical references to time were integrated into the story. I knocked a star (half star) for the oddly extended battle with Chronos that dragged at times, and another star for my feeling that the story didn't quite close the circle between Penelope's real life and the fantasy world she entered to escape her real-life complaints.
I would have liked to have seen closure with Mom, the complicit and ineffectual father, and the Almanac's rule over Mom's realm. As it was, closure within the fantasy realm was cinched up tight, but back in the real world we had only a sense of who the Great Moodler might represent and how each portion of the fantasy was reflected in "the real world". So a battle was won, but nothing of how that affected the next day where no hole existed in Penelope's schedule... What about returning to the mushroom camp -- how did her moodling experience assist her with that? Did she develop a better appreciation for the study of mushrooms? There was more that could have been done at the end, perhaps trimming off some of the laborious parts around working in Chronos-land to accommodate the closure.
I really enjoyed the word play, and the interesting way all of the euphemisms and allegorical references to time were integrated into the story. I knocked a star (half star) for the oddly extended battle with Chronos that dragged at times, and another star for my feeling that the story didn't quite close the circle between Penelope's real life and the fantasy world she entered to escape her real-life complaints.
I would have liked to have seen closure with Mom, the complicit and ineffectual father, and the Almanac's rule over Mom's realm. As it was, closure within the fantasy realm was cinched up tight, but back in the real world we had only a sense of who the Great Moodler might represent and how each portion of the fantasy was reflected in "the real world". So a battle was won, but nothing of how that affected the next day where no hole existed in Penelope's schedule... What about returning to the mushroom camp -- how did her moodling experience assist her with that? Did she develop a better appreciation for the study of mushrooms? There was more that could have been done at the end, perhaps trimming off some of the laborious parts around working in Chronos-land to accommodate the closure.
nssutton's review
2.0
I have always been a planner. My life changed when I started using a weekly print planner and I never looked back. Being organized and thoughtful about tasks and time is freeing for me -- so a children's book that took those same elements and made them such a negative straight out of the gate felt like a bitter pill to swallow. I understand that there is a tiger mom trend to over schedule children, but this felt as if I were being beat over the head with it. I made it about 100 pages in during the ride home on Thanksgiving, but by the time we hit the bridge, I still wasn't digging it and decided to cut my losses. I see shades of Alice in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth in plot design and details.
booksnorkel's review
3.0
I didn’t love this book, not like I loved Phantom Tollbooth. I feel like there was a little bit too much set up, coupled with Penelope not being a very dynamic main character made this whole book feel flat and contrived. I really wasn’t a fan of how her ‘magic’ worked, to avoid a dreadful bore you needed to hum, and to get rid of him you just had to yell ‘interesting’ words at him. Also I didn’t like that she didn’t know what certain words meant even though her parents had her on a really tight studying schedule which included pre-pre SAT prep or whatever. It just seems that someone who is being pushed to the limits on school work would know words like –Anomaly… perhaps that is just me? For girls 5th grade on up looking for a fantasy world that is about slowing down, and taking time to be creative.
h4rmony's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Just a fun silly little book! Love it! (The beginning is kinda boring but once you get to the actually fun silly little part it’s great)
jayoder16's review
3.0
The book was a pleasant read and I like the illustrations and the value placed on imagination and wondering and wandering (also known as moodling). I got a bit lost in all the time terms and play on worlds felt a bit forced, but over all an ok read.
julesthebookdragon417's review
3.0
"The only time you can spend is the time you have right now. And the time you have right now is all the time in the world. Time isn't precious, Penelope. You are. As long as you remember that, you're sure to use it wisely."
Reading this book was like revisiting The Phantom Tollbooth, one of my favorite books in elementary and early middle school. It's fanciful, full of wordplay, and a chance to pause and think about our preconceived notions of--and obsession with--time. It may be children's level chapter book, but it holds just as much food for thoughts for adults.
Reading this book was like revisiting The Phantom Tollbooth, one of my favorite books in elementary and early middle school. It's fanciful, full of wordplay, and a chance to pause and think about our preconceived notions of--and obsession with--time. It may be children's level chapter book, but it holds just as much food for thoughts for adults.
lyneyswife's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0